York, nicknamed the "White Rose" city, is the seat of York County. Named after York, England, the town was established in 1741 along the banks of the Codorus Creek. The city is located in Susqehanna Valley in the south-central part of the state.

In September of 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress moved its temporary quarters to the city. It was in York that the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving, and signed the French Treaty of Alliance. All of these events occurred in the nine months York remained the Capital of the United States - until June 27, 1778.

Due to urban sprawl and a steady increase in development, it is predicted that the York-Hanover area will naturally merge with the Harrisburg metropolitan area by 2010, creating a consolidated region of over 1 million residents.